MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo softball team is ready to start the 2024 season on Friday, Feb. 2 against No. 10 Tampa in Tampa, Fla.
 
"We had a really good fall and we've been able to make the players comfortable with being uncomfortable," said Head Coach Beth Wade. "They've worked really hard on and off the field and they are prepared for the challenges that come with a 56-game season."
 
Opening weekend will include three doubleheaders against Sunshine State Conference school's including the 10^th ranked and favorite to win the SSC Tampa Spartans on Feb. 2, Florida Southern on Feb. 3 and Eckerd on Feb. 4.
 
The following weekend, Montevallo will play in the Charger Chillout hosted by the University of Alabama in Huntsville where they will face Trevecca Nazarene and Young Harris on Friday, Feb. 9. The Falcons will turn around the next day and clash against Carson-Newman and Lincoln Memorial on Saturday, Feb. 10, both of which made the NCAA Tournament a season ago.
 
"The schedule is tough but the more we play those teams, the more the players will understand what it takes to beat those guys and to play on the same level," said Wade.

"I think we're going to be our best self or the best team we can be by playing the best competition we can," said senior Maddie Taylor. "I think seeing those arms and seeing those teams in general is going to make us a better team come the end of the season when we need to suit up and be ready."
 
After two out of conference series against Spring Hill on Feb. 16 and Feb. 17 and Georgia Southwestern on Feb. 20, Montevallo will open Gulf South Conference play where they will play 30 total GSC games against one of the best softball conferences in Division II.
 
"The GSC is one of the toughest conferences in the country, period," said Wade. "You have to figure out how to be able to win consistently. We want to be able to do it throughout the year and especially the end of the year when it really counts."
 
"It's good for our team and the newcomers to see what it's like to play those big names and to be in big situations," said Taylor. "It helps to prepare us for the conference tournament and for postseason, as well as anything on from there," said junior Ellie Derrick.
 
Montevallo will return 10 players from a season ago. Senior Maddie Taylor returns from having the fourth highest batting average on the team at .338 while she had an OPS of .836 while she notched 25 hits and drove in 12 RBI. Sophomore Sydnee Reaves is coming off a fantastic freshman season where she batted .319, had the third highest OPS on the team (1.150) and was tied for third on the team with 13 homers and 38 RBI. Reaves was a perfect 8-8 in stolen base attempts.
 
Ellie Derrick returns to the Falcon lineup after posting the fifth highest slugging percentage on the team at .463. Derrick had 11 extra base hits out of her 23 hits on the season including five home runs. Taylor Lloyd is back on the Falcon squad with the most innings pitched on the team last season as a freshman with 112.1 innings pitched. Lloyd fired three complete games, converted two saves and struck out 62 batters.
 
The Falcons will add six newcomers to the team this year including three freshmen: Kendall Channell, Madison Fargo and Skylar Johnson. Junior Molly Pendley transfers after posting batting averages over .430, 27 doubles, 42 homers and 135 RBI in two seasons at Snead State Community College.
 
Rachel Whiddon transfers from Shelton State where she totaled 188.1 innings pitched and over 100 strike outs in two seasons as a Buccaneer. Sophomore Mya Young transfers from Pearl River after a freshman campaign where she had 23 innings pitched with two complete games and a record of 3-1.
 
"All the girls are excited to be here," said Maddie Taylor. "I'm excited to see how everybody matures throughout the course of the season."
 
"The chemistry this year has been great. Everybody wants to be here every single day. I want to win and we can do that with this group," said Ellie Derrick.
 
"I'm most excited to see the growth of this group," said Wade. "I'm excited to see how far they go and how different we are a month from now and at the end of the year."
 
The Falcons will kick off their 2024 season on Friday, Feb. 2 against No. 10 University of Tampa at 2:00 p.m. CT at Naimoli Family Field.